“Some, measure progress by what they own, others measure it by what they give. For when you take, it is never enough. But the more you give, the more you receive.” (Rashmi Bansal – God’s Own Kitchen)

We have often heard children saying, “I want to be a doctor.” or “I want to be a teacher”. But how many, at the age of 11, say, “I want to teach underprivileged children for free”? And imagine hearing that from a child who comes from a low-income background herself.

Such is the story of millions of children in India who hardly have access to one meal a day. Their dreams can change thousands of lives in turn only if we bring them back to school by nourishing their mind and body with wholesome school meals.

Here is a glimpse of some aims of our mid day meal beneficiaries that pull them back to school every day. When you donate for children’s nourishment, you also support the education and aspirations of these future achievers.

Sujita wants to become a doctor

Sujita is a girl studying in 3rd standard of CPS Primary School in Silvassa, Daman. She dreams for the betterment of others despite her unfavourable background.

Sujita’s parents left her with her grandparents and never returned. Yet, she moved on. Today, she is popular among her teachers as a girl with lots of courage and one who showers unconditional love to everyone. She dreams of being a doctor who helps people with financial difficulties for free.

Sujita admits that she couldn’t have come to school if it was not for the mid day meals. It lessens her dependence on her grandparents and gives her the energy to study as well as play.

Sneha dreams to teach and shape careers

Sneha studies in 8th standard of MP Prathamika Pathashala in Mehboobnagar, Telangana. At the age of 13, she smartly manages unending challenges at home as her father comes back drunk every day.

For Sneha, fulfilling one’s duties and responsibilities are the most important aspects of life. After learning from her circumstances, the 13-year-old wants to teach valuable lessons to children to mould them into responsible human beings of the future.

Given the situation at home, school is a getaway for Sneha where she loves to learn, work towards her goals and spend time with her peers. Additionally, Akshaya Patra’s meals are the energy boosters that keep her energized throughout the day.

Building the future

Nutrition can both make and track the development of a nation. The nutritional level of the population decides its progress in health, education, empowerment and employment.

However, in March 2021, the Ministry of Women and Child Development stated that a million children in India need to be saved from Severe Acute Malnutrition. Thus, despite multiple NGOs and the government working towards nourishment of children, the nation’s people need to come together and contribute.

One such NGO in India is The Akshaya Patra Foundation which started serving nutritious school meals in Government and Government-aided schools in 2000. This NGO is registered under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 and has served 441 million school meals in the last 21 years. With constant support from its compassionate donors, the Foundation now feeds across 14 states and 2 union territories.

Akshaya Patra’s meals are packed with nutrients as stated by the Supreme Court of India and the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Furthermore, the food is cooked separately for primary and upper primary students to meet the specific nutritional requirements of the age groups.

The NGO’s freshly cooked meals reach 1.8 million beneficiaries from 61 kitchens every day. They give them the motivation and the stamina to not only excel in academics but also in sports and the field of arts.

When you donate online to Akshaya Patra – an NGO in India, children like Sujita and Sneha can study hard without second thoughts. Support the Foundation’s mid-day meals to offer equal opportunities to underserved children in nutrition, health, and education.

The unemployment rate in India shot up to 7.83% in April 2022 from 7.60% last month. Offering a helping hand to improve the situation may seem impossible with your busy schedule. But there is a solution!

Donate to NGOs and help India’s future gold-medalists right from where you are.

Did you know a huge chunk of poverty in India arises from acute malnutrition in growing children? Here’s how.

Absence from school
Due to financial troubles, underprivileged children skip school to earn for their families. After the pandemic, this risk has become more severe. According to UNICEF, the number of children being gripped by child labour can rise from 160 million to 169 million by the end of 2022 due to the pandemic. (Source)

Providing mid-day meals (MDM) at school is a proven solution to this challenge. Studies show that when free meals are provided to feed the needy children at schools, families approve of sending their children to school.

Akshaya Patra is a charity in India that works in Public-Private Partnership with the Central Government to serve mid-day meals to children from low-income backgrounds. We are the world’s largest NGO-run school lunch programme to children at Government and Government-aided schools.

Inability to focus
What decides a child’s future is their ability to focus and actively participate in multiple activities at school. An under-nourished child is unable to concentrate despite being present in the classes. This results in their underperformance in social activities such as discussions and physical activities like sports.

Therefore, feeding the children free meals once every day does not end the story. The children must be given the right nutrition in adequate quantities to nurture their complete cognitive and physical development.

Keeping this in mind, Akshaya Patra decided not just to fill stomachs but also to meet the specified requirement of nutrition declared by the Ministry of Human Resource Development in every meal.

Thus, each mid-day meal at Akshaya Patra is cooked from a planned cyclical menu that contains carbohydrates, proteins, and micronutrients like iron, folic acid, vitamins, minerals and so on in standard quantities.

Continuity of Poverty Cycle
Whether a child is absent from school due to responsibilities or lack of strength from undernourishment, it has a direct impact on their future. Due to a lack of knowledge, physical strength, and mental health from nutrient deficiencies, the child loses multiple opportunities to do well and break the cycle of poverty.

As a result, the child, who could have been the next economist or international athlete, ends up in menial jobs with below-average earnings.

When you give charity in India with Akshaya Patra, you support mid-day meals of 1.8 million children across 14 states and 2 union territories. Your contribution will not only feed the needy children but also fund our upcoming programmess to support other underserved sections of society.

Final Thoughts
In conclusion, mid-day meals can be the ultimate weapon to push the future generation to achieve on their own terms. When you donate to Akshaya Patra, you become a part of the revolution without compromising your existing responsibilities.

Your one-time contribution can fund one child’s nutritious meals for an entire academic year. So, donate to NGOs that empower the future.